The Electric Soul Syndicate is an electronic music duo consisting of two extremely talented musicians and songwriters – Mishell Ivon and Andrew Land. Both artists have been working together now for several years, creating a unique sound within their The Electric Soul Syndicate project that blends moments of EDM, pop, UK garage and a range of atmospheric soundscapes – making for one amazing package within new release Blue On Blue.

By Jane Howkins

Mishell Ivon is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, vocalist and lyricist, whereas Andrew Land is a multi-talented pianist and composer, with both artists using their combined strengths on new EP Blue On Blue to create something truly unique. There are seven killer tracks in total on the record, with Love Rebel opening things up nicely. It’s actually one of the main singles from the EP, balancing a palpable sense of emotion and depth with a modern EDM sound that really works wonders. There’s a pretty cool breakdown in the middle of the track too, before the rhythm section kicks in once again with full power.

Lavender Dreams is one of my favourite songs on Blue On Blue. The main chord sequence used is heavenly, starting the tune out slowly, before the drums kick in. It’s got a really dreamy and introspective vibe to it, with a number of subtle synth effects included to back up the gorgeous chord sequence that runs throughout Lavender Dreams.

Don’t Know starts out sounding a little more like the sort of EDM song you might expect to hear in a nightclub or in the charts. However, whilst it’s catchy as all hell, there’s much more here than first meets the ear. The vocals suit the memorable bassline well, working to create a song that is as ethereal and atmospheric as it is catchy. Falling is another single produced by The Electric Soul Syndicate, and it’s not hard to see why the duo decided to make this tune stand out! The backing effects really add something special here, creating a hooky tune that throbs along with the bassline and drums, building up in style as the piece progresses. You really believe Mishell’s vocals as she sings the words “I’m falling” on repeat, creating a palpable sense of urgency.

High Resolution is another electronic pop banger, this time starting out with an almost mystical sounding wall of synths, before the rhythm section and vocals kick in for good. The synths and backing EDM effects add a range of atmospheric textures and cinematic moods to the tune, making for something truly special. Next up is Insomnia, another song that kicks off relatively slowly, highlighting the ethereal vocals from the very beginning. The instrumentation is still present in the mix, but the real focus remains on Mishell’s strong vocal lines, showing a fantastic range when those high notes kick in.

Last (but by no means least) is final track, Blue On Blue (Calabria) – presumably named after the region in Italy. It’s a really interesting song, acting almost as a culmination of everything that came before, building the music up slowly as it draws you in. Suddenly, the piece fades out, ending the EP and making you want to restart the record all over again.

It’s clear that on Blue On Blue, The Electric Soul Syndicate have really pushed the boat out, creating distinctive electronic music with a wealth of atmospheric effects, instead of taking the easy route towards mainstream EDM-pop. Mishell and Andrew’s work has paid off though, as they’ve created something truly great here – keep your eyes peeled for an interview with the duo in the near future!

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